The Verger
A. State whether these sentences are True or False
1. Albert Edward was a habitual smoker.
Ans: False
2. Albert Edward was very particular about his gowns.
Ans: True
3. The churchwardens were young men.
Ans: False
4. The verger learnt to read and write only upon entering into business.
Ans: True
B. Answer in one or two words
1. For how long had the verger been at St Peter’s?
Ans: Sixteen years
2. In how many years did Albert Edward own ten shops?
Ans: Ten years
3. From where did the new vicar come?
Ans: East End
4. How much money did Albert Edward have in the bank?
Ans: Thirty thousand pounds
5. Which cigarettes did he want to buy?
Ans: Gold Flake
6. How much time was given to learn reading and writing?
Ans: Three months
C. Answer in a sentence or two
1. What did Albert Edward do before becoming the verger?
Ans: He worked as a page boy, then as a butler in different households, and finally became the verger at St Peter’s.
2. What did the new vicar discover?
Ans: The new vicar discovered that the verger was illiterate and could neither read nor write.
3. What was the verger’s opinion about the new vicar?
Ans: The verger disliked the new vicar, as he was strict and wanted to control everything. He preferred the old vicar.
4. What did the bank manager suggest?
Ans: The manager advised him to invest his large savings properly.
D. Answer briefly
1. What condition did the new vicar put forward?
Ans: The vicar ordered that the verger must learn to read and write within three months, otherwise he would lose his job.
2. Describe the verger’s attitude towards his gowns.
Ans: The verger was very proud of his gowns. He treated them as a symbol of dignity and carefully preserved even his old gowns.
3. Explain the sentence: “The vergers of St Peter’s like the Popes of Rome, were there for life.”
Ans: This means that the position of a verger was usually permanent. Like the Pope, a verger was expected to serve for life, showing stability and tradition.
4. How did the bank manager react to his illiteracy?
Ans: The manager was surprised but impressed. He appreciated his success despite being unable to read or write.
5. Briefly describe Albert Edward’s career.
Ans: Albert Edward worked as a servant before becoming a verger, where he served for sixteen years. After losing his job, he started a tobacco business, which became highly successful, and he eventually owned ten shops.
E. Answer in detail
1. How did Albert Edward lose his job?
Ans: Albert Edward lost his job when the new vicar discovered that he was illiterate. Although he had served efficiently for many years, the vicar considered it unacceptable. He gave him three months to learn reading and writing.
However, Albert Edward refused, believing it was too late for him to learn. He chose to resign with dignity rather than follow the vicar’s order. Thus, despite his good service, he lost his job due to his illiteracy.
2. Was the discovery of his illiteracy a blessing in disguise?
Ans: Yes, it was a blessing in disguise. Losing his job forced Albert Edward to explore new opportunities. By chance, he noticed the absence of a tobacco shop and started his own business.
His business grew rapidly, and he became wealthy, owning several shops and saving a large amount of money. If he had not lost his job, he might never have discovered his business potential.
Thus, what seemed like a setback actually led to great success in his life.